Cricket South Africa (CSA), the sport’s governing body, continues to be in crisis. Yesterday it issued a press release distancing itself from a bizarre tweet sent by board member and transformation czar, Dr Eugenia Kula-Ameyaw.
She was reacting to the news that Momentum, a key CSA sponsor, had decided not to renew its sponsorship, partly because of the maladministration of the game in South Africa. In a now deleted tweet she said: ‘Momentum forgets that we invest hundreds millions (sic) in Momentum in our SOE investments and pension funds. I remember asking for the BBBEE certificate in my other board. Just check before you make any irrational decision.’
In the statement CSA said it ‘sincerely apologises to Momentum for the unfortunate and unwarranted tweets made by one of our Board Members, in her personal capacity. CSA wishes to reiterate that Dr Eugenia Kula-Ameyaw did not act in her professional position as a non-executive board member of CSA.’ It also thanked Momentum for its support in previous years.
CSA said that it was referring the matter to its Social and Ethics Committee, of which Dr Kula-Ameyaw is reportedly a member.
In an interview with Tinus van Staden of Netwerk24 Dr Kula-Ameyaw had said that she wanted to help select the national side to facilitate transformation. This was despite her previously saying that she didn’t like cricket as it took too long and she didn’t have time to watch it.